There are various synonyms for the phrase "acknowledges publicly" that can be used in different contexts. One such word is "confesses," which is often used in situations where someone admits to wrongdoing or something that was previously hidden. "Admits" is another synonym that can be used when someone acknowledges the truth about a situation or a mistake made. "Announces" can be used for situations where someone is making a public declaration or statement about something. "Confirms" is a synonym that can be used to indicate verifying or affirming the accuracy of something. In short, there are several synonyms to choose from when looking for alternatives to "acknowledges publicly".